There’s sure to be a lot of merriment over the long Easter weekend – but make sure you’re keeping your pets safe as you celebrate and indulge.

Here’s advice from the RSPCA on how Easter can affect your beloved pets – and how to prevent any dramas.

Dogs
Easter is a time for tasty treats – who doesn’t love a chocolate egg or a hot cross bun (or three?!) – but in the paws of our doggos, these treats can be fatal. Chocolate and raisins are both toxic to dogs, even in small amounts – causing vomiting, diarrhoea, convulsions and even death. Chocolate poisoning is one of the most commonly reported animal poisonings.

It’s important to make sure dogs aren’t fed these foods and they’re kept out of reach – and if your dog does accidentally eat them, it’s vital to contact your vet straight away, even if it’s out-of-hours. Never watch and wait in any case of suspected poisoning – the effects can take hold quickly, so getting your pet to the vet quickly if ingested can be the difference between life and death.

RSPCA Head Vet Rebecca Ashman said: “If you want to share treats with your dog this Easter, it’s important to stick to specially made dog treats, or you could even make your own in fun Easter shapes with dog-friendly ingredients. This will avoid a very worrying – and potentially costly – trip to the vets.

“Keep chocolate and hot cross buns out of sight and reach, and prevent children from feeding them to pets, however well-meaning they might be. Dogs can be very good at begging for tasty food and we all want to make our pets happy, but if you give in you risk poisoning them and making them seriously ill – so don’t fall for those puppy dog eyes and make sure any treats you give them are pet-friendly.”

If your dog does eat any toxic foods, the vet will want to know how much of the food your pet has eaten, when and what type, so if possible keep any labels and have your pet’s weight to hand.

You can find more advice on what to do here.

Rabbits
The classic Easter bunny means rabbits are a popular animal – they’re small, sociable and inquisitive, and often they’re perceived as a good ‘starter pet’ for young children. And at this time of year, after a bit of pester power from eager kids, parents can find themselves buying bunnies on impulse.
But rabbits actually have very complex needs and are one of the most neglected pets in Britain – there was an intake of 2,644 unwanted rabbits at RSPCA national animal centres between 2022 and 2024.

“If people are considering getting rabbits as pets this Easter then they need to consider the time and cost of caring for them,” said RSPCA animal welfare expert Dominika Jagoda. “They need so much more than just a hutch at the end of the garden and are very complex animals with needs for company, stimulation and exercise. They also have long life spans of around eight to 12 years so are a big commitment for any family.

“When rabbits are bought on impulse, such as an Easter gift, the owner may not realise how complex they are to care for and what a commitment caring for rabbits can be. We would urge anyone considering taking on rabbits this Easter – ideally a neutered male and neutered female pair – to research their needs thoroughly and adopt from an animal or rescue centre like those run by the RSPCA and other reputable organisations and not shop for them.”

There is more advice on keeping rabbits here.

Cats
Spring is in full bloom over Easter, and that often means we like to fill our homes with beautiful bouquets. But some of our favourite spring flowers, like daffodils, tulips and lilies, can be dangerous for our moggies.

Dominika said: “I, like many people, love flowers – but sadly some flowers and plants can be toxic to our pets so it’s important to avoid these.

“Lilies can be a particular problem because they are so popular at this time of year, but people are not always aware of just how dangerous they are to cats. Cats can actually die from ingesting even small amounts of petals from lilies, and the leaves, pollen, and water from the vase can be deadly to them too. Even cutting the stamens out once they have opened is not enough. A small smudge of pollen can be transferred to a cat’s fur, and once a cat starts cleaning themselves, they can quickly fall ill. They can really suffer – it’s distressing to see and heartbreaking for owners.

“Other flowers such as daffodils, tulips, peonies and hyacinths can also be toxic to cats – and dogs too. However, even non-toxic plants may cause some stomach upsets if ingested so it’s always important to remember to place flowers out of reach of pets.

“This doesn’t mean we can’t fill our homes and gardens with beautiful flowers – but it’s important to make sure we choose blooms that are safe for our pets.”

If you suspect your pet has ingested any dangerous flowers or plants, seek veterinary advice immediately.

Blooms like roses, sunflowers and freesias are good choices for pet-friendly bouquets.

Find out how to keep your cat happy and healthy here.

The RSPCA is also urging animal lovers spending time in their garden this long weekend to consider creating a wildlife-friendly habitat with some helpful tips:

Leave and encourage ‘wild’, insect-friendly areas in your garden to encourage insects.
Avoid netting to cover ponds, fruit or vegetables as animals can become easily entangled, causing serious injuries and sometimes death – and put away sports netting when not in use. If you find a trapped animal and can do so safely, please try to free them and take them to a vet yourself – this will ensure they get help as quickly as possible. Find out more on our website.
Cover all drains and leave watering cans upside down to prevent animals from falling in or becoming trapped.
Check carefully for animals before mowing or strimming the lawn, check bonfires for hibernating animals before setting light to them and never disturb nesting or hibernating animals.
Provide logs, compost and leaf piles which provide shelter for animals like hedgehogs and are havens for insects.
Amphibians such as toads, frogs and newts need a pond to breed so adding one to the garden is a great way to encourage animals. Ensure there is a slope or ramp out of any ponds – which provide a natural source of water and attract food sources such as insects – to create easy access in and out.
Create homes for wildlife such as ‘hogitats’ (hedgehog homes), bat boxes, bird boxes, bee houses and insect hotels – there’s instructions on the RSPCA website.
Leave out fresh, clean water and food sources (such as meaty food like dog food for hedgehogs, or nuts, seeds and grains for birds – here are some ideas on what to feed the birds).
Avoid using dangerous pesticides and other harmful chemicals, and storing chemicals away from any wildlife and pets.
Plant a range of native plants, to encourage pollinators such as bees, hoverflies and butterflies.